Troubleshooting starter motor

[jsttry]

I'm now on my second v8 starter and its playing up. They are only the cheap $220 after market ones from Ashdowns but I'd assume they'd last more than one offroad mud trip. First one failed slowly, this one now just clicks when I turn the key, then after serveral tries it will turn over and fire up. Battery is brand new so it not the issue.

What other things could be causing a problem, wiring...?

What things should I test and how?

I pressure clean the car after each trip to minimise buildup and I put a dab of silicone around where the starter meets the engine just to minimise water getting in.

[460cixy]

pull it out and strip it down it will be full of mud and oil and shit mine was. or it could just be a cactus solinoid

[jsttry]

I would have thought they'd be a little better sealed than that.

When pulling apart do you have to replace parts or is more likely to just need a clean out?

I've got 3 starters (2 x lucas, 1 x cheap aftermarket) plus the one in the car. Other than putting them back in, is there a good way to test the starter and the solenoid?

[460cixy]

i put mine back together with a heap of sealer around where it screws together but mines an old lucas and leaks like a siv to test it wip it out and throw it in a vise and use that as a test bench with a good battery just earth the vice to the batt and ise the pos on the soloinoid